Lockdown update...

Just realised it's nearly two months since my last post on here so here's a little update on my limited birding since the lockdown started a few weeks ago...

We are lucky to live within walking distance of Bothal Pond, so a two or three times a week we are heading there on our daily walk to see what's going on. Two female Scaup have been present throughout and other highlights have included a flyover Marsh Harrier, Egyptian Goose, Black-tailed Godwit and Wheatears.

Otherwise, we have also been having a few walks around the woodland and farmland close to home. Probably my favourite find so far has been Willow Tits in what I think is a new site for the declining species. We've also seen variety of other common species, and in a way it's been nice to take the chance to appreciate these.

Spending more time at home has led to three firsts for the garden so far: nocmig Common Scoter, flyover Goosanders and, most excitingly, a Red Kite yesterday afternoon - just my third in Northumberland.

Here's a few of my photos taken during lockdown so far, and I'll try to post any more I take over the coming weeks...

Willow Tits

Scaup

Male and female Grey Wagtails

Willow Warbler

Chiffchaff

Common Buzzard

Red Kite - a panicked record shot through my bedroom window!

Comma

Patch catch-up...

In between increasing amounts of schoolwork and editing photos from Fuerteventura, we have managed a few visits to the patch. Back at the beginning of March it was extremely quiet, except for a drake Green-winged Teal at Druridge Pools.

Last weekend things were slowly starting to pick up with a first-winter Glaucous Gull north through Druridge Pools being the highlight. An Egyptian Goose was also near Linton Pond.

Today, we headed out hoping to get some hirundines in the deteriorating weather conditions and East Chevington we were a bit surprised not to find any. However, at Druridge Bay Country Park there were at least 60 Sand Martin.

Another 10 Sand Martin were at Druridge Pools and we walked along the coal road to find the adult Bewick's Swan still among 62 Whoopers. As we watched the swan, we picked up a Great White Egret flying towards us from the west and it appeared to land on the shore of the main pool. We rushed back to the hide and at first there was no sign, but my dad picked it up in the SW corner. Unfortunately the views were pretty poor but it was nice to finally find one for ourselves!

A Velvet Scoter and Sandwich Tern were offshore.

Bewick's Swan

Great White Egret

Green-winged Teal

Snipe

Ferruginous Duck!

After news was realeased about a probable Ferruginous Duck at Gosforth Park on Saturday, I was looking forward to seeing what would come of the bird. This morning we woke up to the news that it was still present yesterday evening.

We set off to Gosforth Park thinking that we would have to wait hours for the Duck to show. Thankfully that wasn't the case, just 45 minutes after we arrived the smart male Ferruginous Duck showed well on the water for a couple of minutes, before heading back into the reeds.

It was another half an hour before it reappeared, flying off into the reeds. I'm pretty sure everyone is in agreement that the bird is pure, and it's on my list. 2 Swallows were also at Gosforth Park.

After seeing the Duck we headed for Druridge Pools, hoping to get Egyptian Goose on our county lists. At Druridge Pools there was no sign of the Goose but 4 Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Pintail, a White Wagtail and a fly through male Marsh Harrier and a Common Scoter.

Just as we were leaving we were told that the Goose was at East Chevington. Sure enough when we arrived the Egyptian Goose was in the field west of the South Pool with Greylags. They all flew off after about 15 minutes. The Black-throated Diver was also still on the North Pool as well as 4 Red-breasted Mergansers and a female Marsh Harrier. A further 2 Pintail were at Cresswell with an Avocet.

The black on the bill was restricted to a 'nail' on the tip. See also photo 4.

They eye was the perfect white colour, and the body and flanks also looked just right. The head peaked in the middle.

The bird was always sat quite low in the water so the white on the undertail-coverts was mostly hidden, but I'm pretty sure I saw it when the bird took off and in a couple of views of it on the water

The distinctive bill pattern shows here.

The wing-bar was pure white and showed no trace of grey.

There is a white patch on the belly, but again the tail covers the undertail-coverts. The underwing was pure white.

Egyptian Goose